CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State men’s basketball team injected some excitement and competition to its off-season workout program by staging the first-ever Spring Strong Man Competition, with freshman Cam Fenley and senior Jon Baird providing the heavy lifting to take top honors.

The competition, which the Wildcats coaching staff plans to make an annual event, serves as an entertaining way to test the basketball player’s weight lifts throughout the year. The inaugural event featured two weight divisions (any player over 180 pounds was in the heavyweight division; any below 180 was in the lightweight division) and consisted of three lifts: one rep max bench press, one rep max dead lift and one rep max power clean. The total amount of weight from each player’s best three lifts determined the winners.

Camley hoisted a combined 820 pounds to take the heavyweight division, while Baird lifted 770 pounds to win the lightweight division. They were both presented with Chico State inscribed weight belts for their victory and earned the chance to defend their championship next year.